The very domination of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) will likely have put the colt at the head of the class for champion 2-year-old honors, and the Repole Stable homebred looked good Saturday morning.

“We were extremely happy with the way Fierceness ran,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “The race kind of unfolded the way we envisioned it would. We wanted to get involved and get to the first turn in good position, which he was able to do. Just a powerful performance.”

'Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) looked to be going nowhere at short odds on the Juvenile, but got going late to finish a respectable third.

“Locked got shuffled back a little more than we wanted and then got stuck inside,” Pletcher said. “There was a lot of kickback. I thought once he kind of got into the clear down the lane he started closing pretty well. At that point, the race had kind of gotten away from him. He was a couple strides away from being second, but he just had too much to do at that point.”
Pletcher said both colts will return first to Churchill Downs before shipping to the trainer's South Florida base at Palm Beach Downs to chart a course towards the new year.

There will be no such gray area where it comes to the Eclipse Award-winning juvenile filly after George Krikorian's Just F Y I (Justify) stamped her authority on her race Friday, lowering the colors of the previously undefeated divisional front-runner 'TDN Rising Star' Tamara (Bolt d'Oro). If he wasn't totally surprised that his filly proved best, he was slightly taken aback with the way she did it.

“She actually showed a bit more early speed than I expected,” Mott said. “She put herself right up there, which was great.”
The connections of Tamara confirmed that she emerged with a 'small knot' and the back of her rear hind.

“We'll take a look at it and see what it is,” said trainer Richard Mandella. “That will determine whether we may need to give her a rest. I could see at the half-mile pole that she wasn't running her race. I thought Mike (Smith) would have a tight hold on her.”

Chad Brown said that Hard to Justify, who gave her sensational young stallion a second straight Breeders' Cup winner on Friday in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, would get a rest with an eye on her sophomore season.

European horses unsurprisingly made their presence felt in the afternoon's other grass races. Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) gave her sire, trainer Mick Appleby and jockey Tom Marquand their first Breeders' Cup winner with their first starter.

“It hasn't sunk in yet, it really is a dream come true,” trainer Michael Appleby said. “I'm still pinching myself. It was the best day of my career and I'm just so proud of all my team at home, Tom Marquand and Big Evs's owners Rachael and Paul Teasdale.”

Trainer Aidan O'Brien was dealt a disappointing blow when River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was withdrawn from the Juvenile Turf Friday morning, but the team was mollified some when Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) validated favoritism in the final Breeders' Cup event of the day.

“It's very tough to win here, but I'm delighted for the lads as they put so much into it,” O'Brien said. “It's hard to explain because when things start bad like what happened with River Tiber as it usually goes down because there are a lot of areas you can't control.”

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With defending winners Caravel (Mizzen Mast) (Turf Sprint), Cody's Wish (Curlin) (Dirt Mile), Elite Power (Curlin) (Sprint) and Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) (F/M Sprint) all back to defend their titles, the two-day Championships–consisting of 14 races with purses and awards totaling more than $31 million–gets underway for a record 11th time at Santa Anita Friday.

Sunny skies and temperatures in the 80s–welcome back to Southern California!–will be on the menu as the weekend kicks off with a 10-race, 'Future Stars Friday' program.

“This is what it's all about,” Santa Anita track announcer Frank Mirahmadi said. “The Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita, there is nothing that's bigger than that in our game.”

All eyes will be on Spendthrift Farm's unbeaten 'Rising Star' Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) as she looks to emulate her larger-than-life-dam Beholder (Henny Hughes) with a win in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. A terrific field has been assembled for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, led by last-out GISWs and 'Rising Stars' Locked (Gun Runner), Timberlake (Into Mischief), and the Bob Baffert-trained duo of Muth (Good Magic) and Prince of Monaco (Speightstown).

Some of the headliners for the trio of wide-open 2-year-old turf races include: Royal Ascot G2 Coventry S. winner River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) (Juvenile Turf); GI Natalma S. heroine She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}) (Juvenile Fillies Turf); and returning G2 Queen Mary S. winner Crimson Advocate (Nyquist) (Juvenile Turf Sprint).

Baffert will very likely be favored to secure a fifth win in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic with 'Rising Star' Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) following the late defection and subsequent retirement of GI Belmont S. winner Arcangelo (Arrogate). The $6-million feature also includes G1 Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) and GI Whitney S. winner White Abarrio (Race Day).

The GI Breeders' Cup Turf could arguably be the best race of the weekend. European heavyweights Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and King of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will take on the best from these shores, led by Up to the Mark (Not This Time) in the 1 1/2-mile event.

Other high-profile runners in action this weekend include: Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (F/M Turf); Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) (Mile); and Idiomatic (Curlin) and Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) (Distaff).

The Breeders' Cup World Championships will be televised live by NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and FanDuel TV.

For wall-to-wall coverage of all 14 Championship races, click here for Friday's preview edition and click here for Saturday's preview edition.

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Eighteen horses have been pre-entered for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, led by Blue Rose Farm's Arcangelo, who took command of the 3-year-old male division with four consecutive wins, highlighted by back-to-back scores in the GI Belmont S. and GI Travers Stakes for trainer Jena Antonucci.

Two California-based 3-year-olds also figure prominently in the Classic picture. Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.'s Arabian Knight was defeated by Pin Oak Stud LLC's Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI TVG.com Haskell S. at Monmouth Park, but the 'TDN Rising Star' triumphed over him in the GI FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic S. at Del Mar.

Ushba Tesoro | Horsephotos

Also present is Japanese-bred Ushba Tesoro for trainer Noboru Takagi. The winner of this year's G1 Dubai World Cup was last seen prepping for this spot with a victory Sept. 25 in the Nippon TV Hai at Funabashi Racecourse in Japan.

The deep list of 3-year-olds continues with Mage (Good Magic), winner of the GI Kentucky Derby; Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming), who captured the GI Pennsylvania Derby; Japanese contender Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits), who won the G2 UAE Derby at Meydan; White Abarrio (Race Day), winner of the GI Whitney S. at Saratoga; and Bright Future (Curlin), who captured the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S. upstate.

Top female stars head the list of pre-entrants for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff. GISW Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) has won five of six starts on the West Coast this year, and four of those were at Santa Anita. Trained by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, she comes in off a 5 1/4-length score in the GII Zenyatta S.

Heading West, Juddmonte's 4-year-old Idiomatic (Curlin), trained by Brad Cox, emerged as a star in this division with four graded stakes wins, including back-to-back Grade I victories in the Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga and the Juddmonte Spinster S. at Keeneland.

Randomized | Sarah Andrew

Trainer Chad Brown has pre-entered two from Klaravich Stables, Inc.: the 3-year-old Randomized and the 5-year-old Search Results (Flatter). A daughter of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Nyquist, Randomized has won three straight races, highlighted by a win in the Alabama S. at Saratoga. Search Results, sixth in last year's Distaff, was a recent winner of the GIII Locust Grove S. at Churchill Downs.

In the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, MG1SW Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) leads the European contingent along with Shadwell Estate Company's MG1SW Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Amo Racing's G1SW King of Steel (Wootoon Bassett {GB}). The U.S. squad is well-represented with MGISW Up to the Mark (Not This Time) and MGISW War Like Goddess (English Channel) also pre-entered.

In the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile, Sunday Racing Co. Ltd.'s multiple group stakes winner in Japan Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) earned two Breeders' Cup Challenge automatic berths at Tokyo Race Course when she captured the G1 Victoria Mile for an automatic starting position into the GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and then received a slot in the Mile when she won the June 7 G1 Yasuda Kinen S. Also entered is MG1SW Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) and from the U.S., MGISW Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed).

Cody's Wish | Sarah Andrew

Headlining the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile is Godolphin's defending champion Cody's Wish (Curlin). He could tangle with GI Preakness S. champ National Treasure (Quality Road), and GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Practical Move (Practical Joke).

In the GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, 3-year-old Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has registered back-to-back group 1 scores at York and ParisLongchamp. She could face the John and Thady Gosden-trained English and French multiple group 1 winner Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Canadian-based MGISW Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) and the U.S.-based GISP Didia (Arg) (Orpen).

In the GI PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint includes Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper), who won last year's race by 2 1/2 lengths for trainer Chad Brown. Godolphin's Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile) defeated Goodnight Olive in the GI Derby City Distaff S. back in May and will look to challenge her once more.

MGISW Caravel (Mizzen Mast) was a shocking 42-1 gate-to-wire winner of last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. She's back for trainer Brad Cox and the 6-year-old might grapple with English group 1 winner Live In The Dream (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}) and Japanese multiple group stakes winner Jasper Krone (Frosted).

Finally on Saturday, in the GI Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), Juddmonte's MGISW Elite Power (Curlin) looks to defend as he squares off against MGISW Dr. Schivel (Violence).

Muth | Benoit

Standouts on the 'Future Stars Friday' program include four Grade I winners, who were named 'TDN Rising Stars'. Topping the 12 who are pre-entries for the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile list is Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm's Claiborne Breeders' Futurity winner Locked (Gun Runner), Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.'s American Pharoah S. winner Muth (Good Magic), GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity victor Prince of Monaco (Speightstown)—racing for SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables LLC et al—and Siena Farm LLC and WinStar Farm LLC's Champagne S. winner Timberlake (Into Mischief).

Headliners for the Juvenile Turf Sprint (24 pre-entries) include: Crimson Advocate (Nyquist), for trainer George Weaver, who took the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot.

The GI NetJets Juvenile Fillies includes 15 pre-entries, marked by the presence of 'TDN Rising Stars' Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) and V V's Dream (Mitole).

The GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf has 25 pre-entries, including GSW Buchu (Justify), GISW She Feels Pretty (Karakonite {Jpn}) and English group 2 winner Carla's Way (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}).

Friday's finale, the GI Prevagen Breeders' Juvenile Turf, has drawn 17 pre-entries, including 'TDN Rising Star' Agate Road (Quality Road) and GISW Carson's Run (Cupid)). MGSP Unquestionable (Fr) (Wooton Bassett {GB}) is one of many representing Europe.

“Once again, an outstanding group of horses has been pre-entered for this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships and we look forward to two days of fantastic racing at Santa Anita Park,” said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited. “The competition has never been stronger and the prestige of entering the Breeders' Cup winner's circle has never been higher. We want to thank the talented men and women across the globe who provide the ecosystem of care that enables these magnificent Thoroughbreds to compete at the top of their game. We can't wait to gather next weekend to watch the world's best Thoroughbreds put on a spectacular show.”

Race Order and Wagering Menu Announced…

The official order of races and wagering menu for the 2023 Breeders' Cup were also announced Wednesday. There will be a total of 10 races (five Breeders' Cup races) on the first day of the Championships–“Future Stars Friday”–and 12 races on the Saturday program (nine Breeders' Cup races).

The Friday program begins at 2:30 a.m. ET with four undercard races. A Santa Anita allowance race (Race 10) will conclude the first-day card with a post time of 8:10 p.m. ET.

Championship Saturday's first post is 1:10 p.m. ET and begins with two undercard races. Saturday's program will conclude with a Santa Anita allowance race (Race 12) with a post time of 8:30 p.m. ET.

This year, a total of 27 countries, including Canada, England, France, Germany, and Ireland, will be offering pari-mutuel, commingled wagering on the World Championships through the Breeders' Cup Global Pool.

Nine other jurisdictions will be offering separate pool wagering: Argentina, Australia, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Paraguay, and Turkey.

The 2023 wagering menu will include a Breeders' Cup All-Turf $3 Pick 3 on Friday. The three races, in order, are the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Race 5), the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Race 7), and the GI Prevagen Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (Race 9).

The Breeders' Cup All-Turf Pick 4 on Saturday is a $.50 minimum wager and will package four of the best turf races in the world together. The four races, in order, are the GI Breeders' Cup Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf (Race 4), the Breeders' Cup FanDuel Mile (Race 6), and the GI Breeders' Cup Turf (Race 8), and the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (Race 10).

For the first time, the Breeders' Cup will offer the Breeders' Cup All-Dirt Pick 4 on Saturday, which is a $.50 minimum wager. The four races, in order, are the GI PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (Race 5), the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (Race 7), the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (Race 9), and the GI Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint (Race 11).

Both the All-Turf Pick 4 and the All-Dirt Pick 4 will have a 15% takeout.

Breeders' Cup will also offer a third, middle Pick 5 on Saturday, starting with Race 3. The early Pick 5 will start with Race 1 and the late Pick 5 with Race 7. Last year's late Pick 5 on Saturday generated a $4.8 million pool while the late Pick 4 offered a $3 million pool.

Championships Race Order (All Times Eastern)…

The first Championship race on “Future Stars Friday” will be the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (5:00 p.m.) followed by the GI NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (5:40 p.m.), the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (6:20 p.m.), the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile (7:00 p.m.) and the GI Prevagen Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (7:40 p.m.).

Championship Saturday begins with two undercard races followed by the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (2:30 p.m.), the GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (3:10 p.m.), the GI PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (3:50 p.m.), the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (4:30 p.m.), the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (5:10 p.m.), the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (5:50 p.m.), the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (6:40 p.m.), the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (7:25 p.m.), and the GI Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint (8:00 p.m.).

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It was the fifth time the Breeders' Cup carded five juvenile races for its Future Stars Friday card since the event expanded to its two-day format in 2007.

Friday's on-track attendance was 39,851. On-track handle was $7,504,265.

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Sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s–does it get any better than that?–are expected for the 'Future Stars Friday' program. Cave Rock (Arrogate) will put his unbeaten mark on the line for Bob Baffert in the Juvenile while Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke) headlines a wide-open renewal of the Juvenile Fillies. There will also be a trio of Breeders' Cup grass races for 2-year-olds with Godolphin's European invader Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) leading the way in the featured Juvenile Turf.

Some of the top storylines for Saturday's absolutely stacked program–there's currently a 40% chance of afternoon showers in the forecast–include: Flightline's quest for glory in the $6-million Classic; a showdown between Todd Pletcher-trained stablemates Malathaat (Curlin) and Nest (Curlin) in the Distaff; War Like Goddess (English Channel) taking on the boys in the Turf; the unexpected return of the talented Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) off a 14-month layoff in the Mile; and Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) shooting for a third win at the Championships in the Turf Sprint.

The Breeders' Cup will be televised live domestically on NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and FanDuel TV.

For wall-to-wall coverage of all 14 Championship races, click here for Friday's preview edition and click here for Saturday's preview edition.

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Morning-line favorites on the 'Future Stars Friday' program: The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) (Juvenile Turf Sprint) (7-2); Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke) (Juvenile Fillies) (7-2); Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) (Juvenile Fillies Turf) (4-1); Cave Rock (Arrogate) (Juvenile) (4-5); and Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) (Juvenile Turf) (3-1).

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After fulfilling a lifelong dream by running one-two in the GI Belmont S. with the recently retired and Spendthrift-bound Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) and Nest (Curlin)–one of Repole's seven Grade I victories on the year–the momentum has continued to build for the native New Yorker's stable ahead of this year's Championships at Keeneland.

'TDN Rising Star' Forte (Violence) and Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke), two of the bigger names on the 'Future Stars Friday' card, will line up in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Juvenile Fillies, respectively. The aforementioned Nest will look to put an exclamation point on her brilliant 3-year-old campaign against an all-star cast of older fillies and mares in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. All three are trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher.

“This has been an amazing year,” Repole said. “It's one thing to win the Belmont. But in all my biggest dreams, I never envisioned them coming down the stretch with the blue-and-orange silks in first and second. We won seven Grade I's this year, which is insane, with the incredible team that we've put together of Ed Rosen, Jim Martin, Jake West, Danielle Bricker, and, of course, Todd Pletcher, who has the most pressure.

“Having horses like Chocolate Gelato, Forte and Nest, I have to scratch my head every day,” Repole added.

It's been 12 years now since Repole Stable's flagship runner turned Coolmore leading sire Uncle Mo concluded his championship season with authority in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs.

“I think Uncle Mo not only was the perfect name for that horse (Editor's Note: Uncle Mo is a popular sports expression used to describe when a team or player gets on a roll), but I really think that he's been the perfect name for the stable,” Repole said. “From Uncle Mo, you get Mo Donegal. You get horses like that. At the end of the day, he's gonna be the patriarch of the stable.”

Stars in the Making…

Forte is likely to go off as the second choice in the Juvenile behind the unbeaten Bob Baffert-trained MGISW and 'Rising Star' Cave Rock (Arrogate). Looking to be any kind with a blowout debut win at Belmont Park, Forte has more than made up for an off-the-board finish as the favorite in Saratoga's GIII Sanford S. with a pair of subsequent wins at the highest level.

After splashing home first by three lengths in a saturated renewal of the GI Hopeful S. with next-out GI Champagne S. winner 'Rising Star' Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) back in third, Forte passed his two-turn test in style with a hard-fought neck decision after making a powerful, sweeping move on the far turn over the Juvenile track and trip in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity.

Bred in Kentucky by South Gate Farm and co-owned with Vinnie Viola's St. Elias Stable, Forte is one of six Grade I winners for Violence. The $80,000 Keeneland November weanling and $110,000 Keeneland September yearling hails from the extended female family of champion 2-year-old filly Folklore (Tiznow).

“We went out there for the Futurity with the number one goal to prepare this horse for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile,” Repole said. “We wanted to get a race over the track and for him to be stabled at Keeneland. The way he did it was incredibly impressive. He's getting better and better.”

Repole continued, “We have that West Coast Baffert horse to beat. We know we can sit behind horses and we'll see what happens. You never know, you got to show up, right?”

Chocolate Gelato, winner of the GI Frizette S., has been installed as the 7-2 morning-line favorite in a full field of 14 for the Juvenile Fillies. “I think it's a wide-open race,” Repole said.

A disappointing third on debut as the heavy favorite on opening day at Saratoga, Chocolate Gelato ran to those lofty expectations next time out, airing in front-running fashion with a career-best 92 Beyer a month later at the Spa. The $165,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling and $475,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida 2-year-old showed a different dimension over a sloppy track going a one-turn mile in the Frizette, rallying through traffic from fifth with a blitz on the far turn en route to a professional-looking one-length victory.

She will seek to become the ninth filly to pull off the Frizette/Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies double. Bred in Kentucky by Vince Colbert, Chocolate Gelato's deep female family includes GISWs Imagining, Rhythm, Girolamo and Super Saver. She makes her two-turn debut in the Juvenile Fillies.

“She sat behind horses, got mud in her face and she fought down the stretch,” Repole said of Chocolate Gelato's Frizette win. “She's on the backstretch sitting in fourth or fifth on the inside and I said to everyone around me, 'If this is a good horse, she's gonna win this race because this is a really tough spot.' She was 8-5, but at that point, if there were live odds, I would've made her 6-1. Irad [Ortiz, Jr.] said she came through willingly and the rest is history.”

That Top 1% of 1%…

It's been a season to remember for the division-leading Nest, led by a trio of jaw-dropping Grade I victories against her peers in Keeneland's GI Central Bank Ashland S. and Saratoga's GI Coaching Club American Oaks and GI Alabama S. Also a solid second as the favorite in the GI Kentucky Oaks, the $350,000 Keeneland September graduate ran terrific in defeat once again after stumbling at the start against the boys in the final leg of the Triple Crown. The Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House colorbearer punched her ticket to Lexington with an effortless 9 3/4-length win while taking on older fillies and mares for the first time in the GII Beldame S. at Aqueduct.

“I've been so blessed to have Grade I, special horses,” Repole said. “The only horse I've owned that I can even remotely at this time compare her to is Uncle Mo. Uncle Mo had the brilliance of that top 1% of 1%. Nest has that. She's a once-in-a-lifetime filly and she's coming back next year. She's just getting better.”

Nest may be favored in a Distaff field for the ages that also includes her champion 'Rising Star' stablemate Malathaat (Curlin), MGISW Clairiere (Curlin) and GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Secret Oath (Arrogate).

“I dreamed of watching races like this as a kid,” Repole said. “Forget that she's potentially the favorite. It's an honor and a blessing just to be in a race like this.”

Bred in Kentucky by Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stables–also the breeders of Mo Donegal–Nest is one of 19 top-level winners for the mighty Curlin. Her full brother GI Santa Anita H. winner Idol (Curlin), campaigned by Calvin Nguyen, will begin his career at stud as a Repole Stable/Taylor Made Stallions Venture in 2023. Their 2-year-old stakes-winning half-brother Lost Ark (Violence), a troubled sixth in the Breeders' Futurity, is entered in the Juvenile.

“I've been following Idol's career since the day we purchased Nest as a yearling,” Repole said. “A few weeks after we bought Nest, Idol broke his maiden and showed incredible talent. It was very exciting when he won a Grade I in California. Now with Nest and Idol both being Grade I winners, I'm excited about both of their future potentials–Idol as a stallion, and Nest, one day in the future, as a broodmare.”

Strength in Numbers…

Smart money says that you're going to be seeing a lot more of Repole in the coming years at the Championships. The co-founder of Glaceau Vitaminwater (sold to Coca-Cola for a reported $4.1 billion in 2007) and the sports drink BodyArmor (which also sold to Coca-Cola for $5.6 billion in 2021) and Viola's St. Elias Stables led all buyers for the second straight year at the Keeneland September sale, purchasing 31 yearlings in partnership for $12.84 million ($414,194 average).

In addition to Forte, Repole and St. Elias, of course, teamed up to campaign 2019 GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner and champion older dirt male Vino Rosso (Curlin), himself a $410,000 KEESEP graduate. Now standing at Spendthrift Farm, Vino Rosso was represented by a first-crop filly that brought $550,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale.

“It's been a good run, so I stepped it up a little bit,” Repole said. “I thought I was being too cheap, so I decided to spend a little bit more money last year and this year. I say I do this with 5% of my time. I think I'm gonna increase it to 10%, so let's see what happens.”

With an emphasis on creating stallions, Repole, either alone or in partnership, purchased a total of 70 yearlings at Keeneland September for a total of $26.67 million. Some of Repole's other high-profile partners include: Coolmore, Eclipse, West Point, Spendthrift and Gainesway.

“At first, I was really against partnerships,” Repole said. “I kinda wanted to call the shots. But at the end of the day, you know what? Number one, it builds relationships and partnerships that are very important to me. And number two, would you rather own 50% of 100 horses? Or 50 horses at 100%. I'd rather double my chances, or in certain ways, triple my chances.

“What I'm most proud of with the seven Grade I wins this year is that you've got my partnership with Eclipse with Nest, Forte with my friend Vinnie Viola, Mo Donegal with Donegal Racing and Chocolate Gelato, who is 100% Repole. It's pretty cool to have those four horses, own 50% or more on all of them and have all these different partners.

Repole concluded, “We want to win, we want to have fun and we want to share success. Those are the goals of the stable.”

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Nine horses were pre-entered for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. In addition to the record-setting GI Pacific Classic winner Flightline, the $6-million centerpiece has also attracted last term's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt hero Life Is Good (Into Mischief) as well as standout sophomores Epicenter (Not This Time), GI Kentucky Derby upsetter Rich Strike (Keen Ice) and Taiba (Gun Runner). Fellow 3-year-old Cyberknife (Gun Runner) has a first preference in the Dirt Mile.

“We're gonna be in with really great horses, this is what makes this so special. If you look at that field in the Breeders' Cup Classic, it's going to be a really dynamic race,” said Flightline's trainer John Sadler, who won the 2018 Classic with Accelerate.

The GI Breeders' Cup Distaff will feature a highly anticipated showdown between Todd Pletcher-trained heavyweights champion Malathaat (Curlin) and leading 3-year-old filly Nest (Curlin). Six additional fillies or mares have been pre-entered in the star-studded Distaff, including GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Secret Oath (Arrogate), MGISW Clairiere (Curlin) and runaway GI Cotillion S. winner Society (Gun Runner).

“We're super excited about the way both of them are coming up to it,” Pletcher said. “Two really top- class fillies. I kinda hate running the two of them against each other, but it's certainly what both of them deserve.”

Champion sprinter Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music), a disappointing sixth as the favorite in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, will take on the race's defending winner Aloha West (Hard Spun) once again while Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) will shoot for his third straight Breeders' Cup victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

Defending GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint heroine Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) will be back to defend her title as well. Pre-entries for the F&M Sprint also include last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) and streaking GI Ballerina H. winner Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper).

Talented MGISW sophomore Jack Christopher (Munnings), pre-entered in both the Sprint and Dirt Mile, has a first preference in the former. Cody's Wish (Curlin) and Laurel River (Into Mischief) will both stretch out to two turns for the Dirt Mile following eye-catching wins going seven furlongs in the GI Forego S. and GII Pat O'Brien S., respectively.

Classy 5-year-old mare War Like Goddess (English Channel) will take on males in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, including a powerful one-two punch from Godolphin's German MG1SW Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S. winner Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}); last year's Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}); and 2021 Saudi Cup winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}).

A wide-open GI Breeders' Cup Mile pre-entered field of 18 includes: GI Coolmore Turf Mile S. winner Annapolis (War Front); streaking MG1SW Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}); last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}); G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. upsetter Bayside Boy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}); cross-entered G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp heroine Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}); comebacking MGISW Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}); 2020 Mile winner Order of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}); and last year's runner-up Smooth Like Strait (Midnight Lute).

Last out Chad Brown-trained GISWs In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) and European invaders Above the Curve (American Pharoah), Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) are among 15 pre-entered for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Standouts on the 'Future Stars Friday' program include: GISWs Cave Rock (Arrogate), Forte (Violence) and Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile; and the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies-bound Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke), Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) and And Tell Me Nolies (Arrogate).

Friday's featured GI Breeders' Juvenile Turf has drawn 18 pre-entries, including the streaking Californian Packs a Wahlop (Creative Cause), GII Pilgrim S. winner Major Dude (Bolt d'Oro), GII Bourbon S. winner Andthewinneris (Oscar Performance) and European invaders Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road), Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}).

The GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf has 23 pre-entries, including GII Miss Grillo S. top three Pleasant Passage (More Than Ready), Free Look (Tapit) and Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}); GI Natalma S. upsetter Last Call (English Channel); GII JPMorgan Chase Jessamine S. winner Delight (Mendelssohn); and the Aidan O'Brien-trained Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never).

Unbeaten Iowa-bred Tyler's Tribe (Sharp Azteca), pre-entered in both the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and Juvenile, has a first preference in the former.

Headliners for the Juvenile Turf Sprint (26 pre-entries) include: G1SW The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), unbeaten Speed Boat Beach (Bayern) and Love Reigns (Ire) (U S Navy Flag), who could provide trainer Wesley Ward with a fourth straight win in the race. The Platinum Queen defeated older horses in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines at ParisLongchamp.

“Once again we could not be more proud with the outstanding quality of horses from around the world that have been pre-entered for this year's World Championships for a spectacular two days of racing with our host track partner Keeneland,” said Drew Fleming, Breeders' Cup President and CEO. “We applaud the men and women across the globe who are preparing these magnificent Thoroughbreds for their ultimate tests of competition on Nov. 4-5. It is also important to recognize our breeders and nominators and their support and commitment in funding the purses and awards for the World Championships.”

Race Order and Wagering Menu Announced…

The official order of races and wagering menu for the 2022 Breeders' Cup were also announced Wednesday. There will be a total of 10 races (five Breeders' Cup races) on the first day of the Championships–“Future Stars Friday”–and 12 races on the Saturday program (nine Breeders' Cup races). The Friday program begins at 11:55 a.m. ET with five undercard races. Championship Saturday's first post is 10:30 a.m. ET and begins with two undercard races.

The 2022 wagering menu will include a Breeders' Cup All-Turf $3Pick 3 on Friday. The three races, in order, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Race 6), the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Race 8), and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (Race 10).

The Breeders' Cup All-Turf Pick 4 on Saturday is a $.50 minimum wager and will package four of the best turf races in the world together. The four races, in order, are the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (Race 4), Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Race 6), Breeders' Cup Mile (Race 8), and the Breeders' Cup Turf (Race 10).

Championships Race Order (All Times Eastern)…

The first Championship race on “Future Stars Friday” will be the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (3:00 p.m.) followed by the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (3:40 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (4:20 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (5:00 p.m.) and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (5:40 p.m.).

Championship Saturday begins with two undercard races followed by the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (11:50 a.m.), the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (12:29 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (1:10 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (1:50 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Sprint (2:30 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Mile (3:10 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Distaff (3:55 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Turf (4:40 p.m.) and the Breeders' Cup Classic (5:40 p.m.).

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The 39th Breeders' Cup begins on Friday, Nov. 4 with Future Stars Friday, featuring all five Breeders' Cup World Championships races for 2-year-olds. There will be five undercard races preceding the first Breeders' Cup race on Friday's 10-race program, with the first race post time at 11:55 a.m. ET.

USA Network and FanDuel TV (formerly TVG) will televise the first day of this year's World Championships from 2-6 p.m. ET. This is the first year that USA Network will televise the World Championships. In total, FanDuel TV will be televising 13 of the 14 World Championships races and all undercard races.

Friday's first Breeders' Cup Championship race will be Race #6, which will have a post time of 3 p.m. ET. Post time for the last Breeders' Cup race of the day, Race #10, will be 5:40 p.m. ET.

There will be 12 races on Saturday, Nov. 5, featuring nine Breeders' Cup World Championships races. The day opens with two undercard races, beginning with a first race post time of 10:30 a.m. ET. The first Breeders' Cup Championship race will be Race #3, which will have a post time of 11:50 a.m. ET. FanDuel TV will televise the first eight Breeders' Cup World Championships races on Saturday.

USA Network begins its Saturday coverage from 1-3:30 p.m. ET, followed by two-and-a-half hours of live programming on NBC and Peacock, from 3:30-6 p.m. ET, culminating with the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. Post time for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, Race #11, will be 5:40 p.m. ET. An additional undercard Race #12 will complete the Saturday programming with a post time of 6:20 p.m. ET.

The official race order and wagering menu for both days of the World Championships will be announced on Wednesday, Oct. 26.

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Future Stars Friday coverage had more than 80,000 live views, and Saturday's broadcast grew dramatically, topping 200,000. The shows provided analysis, commentary, interviews, and race calls in Spanish, and enabled audiences spanning the globe to view the races live, with viewers tuning in from the U.S., Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Spain, and every country in South America.

“As a team, we were absolutely thrilled with the reach of the show, the live engagement with fans all over the world, and the support these shows received from our partners at America's Best Racing and the Breeders' Cup,” said Hípica TV host and racing analyst Claudia Spadaro. “We are confident that this is just the beginning. Our Breeders' Cup viewership numbers make it clear that the audience is out there and that they want more coverage of racing in Spanish.”

Co-hosted by Spadaro, Emanuel Aguilar, Annise Montplaisir, Roberto Rodriguez, and Darwin Vizcaya, Breeders' Cup en Vivo launched on Aug. 28 with a series of six live digital handicapping shows in Spanish covering 14 of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races. Developed and produced by ABR, Breeders' Cup en Vivo was streamed live across both organizations' Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube channels. The Challenge Series shows alone generated more than 75,000 combined views and engagements with a reach of more than 205,000.

“The digital shows were an extension of Spanish-language content that we've made an investment in going back to our launch of the 'La Trifecta' streaming series last year,” said Stephen B. Panus, president of TJC Media Ventures. “We want to congratulate the entire team of hosts and producers who brought the Breeders' Cup shows to life, beginning with the Challenge Series through to the World Championships at Del Mar racetrack, and to convey that we'll continue to invest time, energy, and resources into reaching Spanish-speaking audiences.”

“The 'Breeders' Cup en Vivo' live stream further advances our goal of expanding the global reach of the Breeders' Cup World Championships and bringing in new audiences to enjoy the excitement of Thoroughbred racing at its finest,” said Justin McDonald, Breeders' Cup senior vice president of Marketing. “We thank America's Best Racing, the whole 'en Vivo' team, and Hípica TV for their efforts in making this program an unqualified success.”

About America's Best Racing:

America's Best Racing is a multimedia fan development and awareness-building platform, initiated by The Jockey Club, designed to increase the profile and visibility of North America's best Thoroughbred racing events with a primary focus on the sport's lifestyle and competition. You can follow America's Best Racing at AmericasBestRacing.net as well as on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Google+, Instagram, and Snapchat.

About Breeders' Cup World Championships:

The Breeders' Cup Limited administers the Breeders' Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing's year-end championships, as well as the Breeders' Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The Breeders' Cup is also a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, an organization composed of industry leaders committed to advancing safety measures in Thoroughbred racing and improving the well-being of equine and human athletes.

The 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships will be held at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, on November 4-5. Breeders' Cup press releases appear on the Breeders' Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders' Cup on social media.

About Hípica TV:

Hípica TV is the official Spanish transmission of Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields, Laurel Park, and Pimlico, which host races including the Pegasus World Cup and the Preakness Stakes.

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